Means for synchronously displaying cinematographic pictures and reproducing sound.



MEAnNsfo-R sYNcHrRoNouSLY DISPLAYING Y 1,144,339. D1..2Vzz

Ilill APPLICATION FILED IAN. 4, |901.

LQGAUMONT.Y CINEMATOGRAPHIC PICTURES AND REPRODUCING SOUND.

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@$1 513s @Hoang MEANS FOR SYNCHRONODSLY DISPLAYING CIN-EMATOGRAPHIC PICTURES AND REPRODUCING SOUND.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 4. |901- Patented June 22, 1915.

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APPLICATION FILED IAN. 4, |907.

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STATES PATENT OFFICE.

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'menace specificati@ of Letters Patent.

PICTURES .AND

patented aune a2, 1915.

` application alecranuryaiea'z. seriamaeaaesv.

To all whom it concern.'

Be it known that I, LON GAUMONT, a

citizen of the French Republic, anda resi' dent of Paris, Isle-de-France, France, have invented certain Improvements in Means for Synchronously Displaying Cinematographic Pictures and Reproducing Sound, of which the' following is a speciiication.

'This invention relates to certain improvements in cinematographic apparatuses, and more particularly in that class of such apparatuses which are especially designed 'and adapted for employment in connection with simultaneously actuated phonographs, or equivalent accompanying instruments, and the object of the invention iste provide an apparatus of this general character of a simple and comparatively inexpensive nature having novel and improved means for Aso facilitatingV the operation of the cinematograph in substantially synchronous relation to the operation of the phonograph or equivalent v accompanying instrument, so that accompanying Words or music may be produced by such phonograph in properly timed relation to the motion pictures produced by the cinematograph.

The invention consists in an apparatus of this general character including two mechanisms, one of which' is a phonograph or talking machine, and the other of which is a cnematograph or moving picture machine adapted to be operated in unison with the operation of said phonograph, or vice versa, and an index means controlled from the operation of one of said mechanisms and serving as a means to facilitate the control of the other mechanism.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction, and combinations and arrangements of the several parts of the improved cinematographic apparatus, wherb certain important advantages are att'aine and the apparatus is' rendered siml willfbe hereinafter fully @describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure lris a front elevation of an apparatus embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the apparatus as shown in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken centrally through the apparatus shown in the preceding figures; Fig. i is a vertical section taken transversely through the apparatus in a plane at right angles to the plane of the section in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan View showing a modified formation of the improved cinematographic apparatus comprised in my present invention; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken vertically through the apparatus shown in Fig. 5, the plane of the section being indicated by the line a--a in said figure, and Fig. 7 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating still another formation of the improved cinematographic apparatus comprised in my present invention.

Referring iirst to Figs. 1 to 4, the apparatus is therein shown mounted upon a support or table 1 of any preferred nature, and is provided with a fra-me or casi-ng compri-singV end plates 2, 2 formed from insulating material, and spaced apart from each other to receive between them at their upper parts a tubular-.metal shell or sleeve 3, the ends of which are shownas being sunk in the faces of the insulating end pieces 2, 2 as indicated at 4 in the drawings.

The shell or sleeve 3 may be conveniently7 formed from soft iron so as to be adapted to support within its interior a plurality of pole pieces 5, 5 whereon field windings are supported, there being a shaft 6 extended axially through the shell or sleeve with its ends journaled in the end pieces 2, 2 and `.with its intermediate part provided with a rotor 7 arranged in relation to the. pole pieces so as to constitute an electric motor. 8, 8 represent commutator rings mounted on the shaftand adapted to connect the armature windings in circuit with brushes 9, contacting with said rings 8, 8 in a well wav.

ne end of the shaft 6 is extended into a recess at' the rear surface of the rear end piece 2, and has fixed upon it a gear Wheel 10, meshing with an intermediate gear wheel 11 mounted to turn upon a stud 12, and meshing in turnsyvith a gear wheel 14 secured upon the rear-.end of a stud or shaft 15 which is directed forwardly into the shell or sleeve 3, and has a bearing at the rear end of the frame or box 16 of a diiferventlal gear device, the said frame or box 16 rearwardly directed boss or trunnion 17 of said box or casing.

llithin thel box or casing 16 the stud or shaft 15 carries fixed upon it a lbevel gear wheel or member 18 which is in mesh at its opposite sides with interme-diate bevelgear wheels or pinions 19, 19 held upon a transverse shaft or stud 20 extended across said box or casing 16 at right angles to the length of shaft 15, and at the forward part of said box or casing, said intermediate gear wheels or pinions 19, 19 are in mesh with abevel gear wheel 21 similar and opposite to the gear wheel 18, and held upon a shaft 22, alined axially with said shaft 15 and mounted to turn in a bearing produced axially within the forwardly directed boss or trunnion 17 of the differential gear box or casing 16, with its forward end extended in front of said boss or trunnion and provided with a gear wheel 23. 24 represents a spur gear wheel or pinion supported to turn upon a bracket 26 adjustably held as seen at 27 upon the table or support 1 and in mesh with the gear wheel'23, and being operatively connected with a flexible shaft or equivalent driving connection as seen at 25. The forward extremity of the forwardly directed boss or trunnion 17 of the box or casing 16 ot the differential gear device is formed into a pinion 28 which is in mesh with a spur gear Wheel 29, having a boss 30 mounted to turn freely upon a stud 31 extended from the front plate 2, said boss 30 having ixed upon it an index member or pointer 32 adapted, during the movement of the arts, to play over a gage member 33 carried by the front plate 2 as and for purposes to be hereinafter more particularly explained.

In carrying out my invention in connection with the parts constructed and arranged as above described I provide a phonograph and a cinematograph of any preferred description, one of which mechanisms, as for example, the phonograph, has an electrical distributer, or other equivalent means',` electrically connected to the motor adjacent the diderential gearing, adapted to operate said motor synchronously, or in a certain time relation to the turn-table or cylinder support of the phonograph. Said motor, which runs synchronously with the phonograph, has a shaft 6 which is in opcinematograph to the gear wheel or pinion j 24, whlch 1s thus driven from the cinematograph and serves to communicate the movement thereof to the forward shaft 22 of the differential gear device.

In the practical operation of the apparatus constructed and arranged as above described it is evident that if the gearing for driving the shaft 22 of the differential gear device from the cinematograph beproportioned properly with respect to the ratio desired to be maintained between the phonograph and cinematograph, so that the alined shafts 15 and 22 of the differential gear device are driven at equal speeds, no movement will be communicated to the box or casing 16 of the differential gear device, and consequently the pointer or index member 32 will remain substantially stationary ina 4central or neutral position with respect to the gage member 33, but if either the cinei matograph or phonograph be driven at an excessive speed, a lcorresponding movement of the box or casing 16 of the` dilerential gear device will ensue, causing the index i member or pointer 32 to play over the gage member 33 in one direction or the other de-'j f pendent upon which of the two mechanisms has the excessive speed, and indicating to the operator a required increase or diminution of the speed of either the cinematograph or phonograph such as is needful to entrelative speeds. Where interchange of j these wheels is desirable, the adjustable connection of bracket 26 with the table or support 1 permits such interchange to be read'- ily accomplished, and the fiexible shaft 25 permits the mechanism connected therewith to be adjusted into any desired position relative to the mechanism which is coupled with v the shaft 15 of the differential gear device.

By the operation of the apparatus 'as above described, the attendant is permitted,

by observation of the index member or pointer 32, to so vary the speed either of the phonograph orcinematograph as may be necessary to maintain a substantially `constant timed relation between the two mechanisms. The actual control of the speed of the phonograph or cinematograph may be accomplished in any desired mann graph, and `it will also be obvious from the in practice. Nor do I above description that the apparatus is susceptible of considerable modification without material departure from the principles and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims, and for this reason I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the precise' formationand arrangementv of theV several parts of the apparatus shown herein in carryin out my invention desire to be understood as limiting myself to the employment of my improvements in connection with any special form or kind of motor or driven' means operating in time relation with the phono raph or cinematograph, since it will be evi ent that the special nature of such motors or driven means is altogether immaterial to my ypresent invention. For eX- ample, in some cases, the construction of the apparatus shown in Figs;v 5 and 6 may be employed with good results. As shown in these figures, 34 represents an electric or other motor suitably mounted and connected with a source of energy which may be a battery or the like, and provided with ashaft 35 supported in bearings 36 and provided with a grooved wheel 37 adapted to receive a belt or band from which may be driven a phonograph in connection with which a cinematograph is desired to be operated. 38 represents `the frame or casing of a differential gear device, the shaft 35 being cxtended in al bearing at one side of said frame or casing, and carr ing a miter gear wheel f 39 with opposite si es of which mesh intermediate gears 40, 40 turning on alincd axes at right angles to the length of shaft 35, and meshing, at the side of the frame or casing opposite to said shaft 35, with opposite sides of a miter gear wheel 41 secured upon a shaft 42 which has a bearing in frame or casing 38 and is extended thereii'omopposite to and in alinement with the shaft 35 and is supported in suitable bearings 43. 44 represents spur gears by means of which the shaft 42 1s operatively connected with the shaft 45 of the cinematograph 46 in connection with which the phonograph is used, said cinematographv being herein shown as provided with a crank handle 47 by means of which it may be manually driven in a well known way.

One of the bearings 36 for the shaft 35 is provided with a stationary gage member 48, and the end of the casing or frame 38 of the differential gear device which is adjacent to such bearing is provided with a pointer or index member 49 which in the voperation of the parts is adapted to play across or stand stationary and centrally positioned with respect to the gage member 4S of the bearing 36 in such a manner as to indicate to the attendant at all times the speed relation existing between the phonograph and cinematogra h, so that the speed at which the crank han le 47 is turned may be varied by the attendant to maintain a proper timed relation between such mechanisms. The operation of the apparatus constructed as above described is substantially similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, excepting that the attendant exerts control over *the speed of the cinematograph through the crank handle 47 in order to maintain a substantially constant timed relation between the phonograph and cinematograph and to prevent excessive liuctuation of the index member 49, relative to the ga e device. c

n Fig. 7 I have shown another modified formation of the improved cinematographic apparatus wherein the Afront plate 2 carries insulated contacts 50, 50 which, when the index member or pointer 32 is moved in one or the other direction from its central or neutral position, are adapted to communicate electrically therewith to close one or the other of two electric circuits 51, 51 each of which includes a generator 52. Signals or alarms are also included in the respective circuits so as to be operated upon closure thereof to give warning of deviations from the desired speed ratio of the phonograph and cinematograph. Such signals or alarms may be in the form of differently colored incandescent lamps 53, 53, differently pitched bells 54, 54, or other audible or visible devices.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent ist 1. Means for synchronously displaying cinematogranhic pictures and reproducing sound, comprising a cinematograph and a phonograph adapted to be located remote one from the other, an indicating device, said indicating device comprising a differential gearing, an electric motor adjacent said differential .gearing for driving one of the gears thereof, electrical means under the control of a moving part of, and adapted to' rotate said motor at a speed having a definite time relation to, the remote one of said cinematograpli and said phonograph, a connection between the second gear of said differential and the other of said phonograph and said cinematograph, and an indi- 'cator hand actuated by. the intermediate gear of said' differential.

2. Means for synchronously" displaying cinematographic pictures and reproducing sound, comprising a cinematograph and a phonograph adapted to belocated remote one from theother, a diierential gearing, an electric motor adapted to drive one of the gears of said differential, electrical means under the control of amoving part of said phonograph for-driving said motor at a speed having a definite time -relation to said phonograph, a connection between the other gear of said differential and Said'cinematograph, and an index actuated by-the intermediate gear of said differential, said index being adapted to maintain a fixed position when the definite time relation between the phonograph and cinematograph is maintained, and to indicate by its movement to one .side or the other a deviation lfrom the definite time relation of said cinematograph and phonograph.

3. Means for synchronously displaying cinematographie pictures and reproducing sound, comprising a cinematograph and a phonograph 'adapted to be located remote one from the other, an indicating device comprising a frame, a diierential gearing mounted in said frame, an electric motor also'mounted in said frame and adapted to drive one yof the gears of said differential, electrical means'under the control of a moving part of said phonograph for driving said motor at a speed having a definite .time relation to said phonograph, a connection between the other gear of said differential and said cinematograph, and an index actuated by the intermediate gear of said diterential, said index being adapted to maintain a fixed position when the definite time relation between the phonograph and cineinatograph is maintained, and to indicate by its movement to one side or the other a deviation from the definite time relation of said cinematograph and phonograph.

4. Means for synchronously displaying cinematographic pictures and reproducing sound, comprising a cinematograph and a phonograph adapted-to b e located remote one from the other, a differential gearing,

means under the control of a moving part of said phonograph for driving said motor at a speed having a definite time relation to said phonograph, a connection between the other gear of said differential and said cinematograph, and an index actuated by the intermediate gear of said diierential, said index being adapted to maintain a fixed position when the definite time relation between the phonograph and cinematograph is maintained, and to indicate by its movement toV one side or the other a deviation from the definite time relation of said cinematograph and phonograph, said motor and said cinematograph beingconnected to the respective gears of the differential through intermediate gears which are adapted to beehangedto 70 obtain a desired speed relation between said phonograph and motor.

5. Meansv for synchronously displaying cinematographic pictures and reproducing sound, comprising a cinematograph and a 4 phonograph adapted to be located remote one from the other, a differential gearing, an electric motor adapted to drive one of the gears of said diiferential, electrical means under control of a moving part of said phonograph for driving ysaid motor at a speed having a definite time relation to said phonograph, a connection between the other gear of said ydifferential and said cinematograph, and an index actuated by the intermediate gear of said differential, said index being adapted to maintain a fixed `position when the definite time relation between the phonograph and cinematography is maintained, and to indicate by its movement to one side or the other a deviation from the definite time relation of said cinematograph and phonograph, electricall signaling devices, and contacts at each side of said index, said index being adapted to scribing witnesses.

LON GAUMONT. Witnesses GABRIEL GUD, JULES ARMENGAUD, JEUNE.

actuate said signalingI devices upon coming i. 

